Comments on: Cabs going green http://bytesfromthebackseat.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/cabs-going-green/ 1 drivers experiences working night shift in a Perth taxi. Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:34:20 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Becker http://bytesfromthebackseat.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/cabs-going-green/#comment-389 Becker Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:00:40 +0000 http://bytesfromthebackseat.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/cabs-going-green/#comment-389 Good points you make there Lugosi. To answer your first point. Even if the initial cost is higher for a business user such as the taxi industry it would be offset by the reduced fuel cost over the life of the vehicle. 8yrs here in Perth for full time taxis. I've seen taxis with 1.6million kays on them after 8yrs. There has to be significant savings over regular vehicles. Good points you make there Lugosi.

To answer your first point. Even if the initial cost is higher for a business user such as the taxi industry it would be offset by the reduced fuel cost over the life of the vehicle. 8yrs here in Perth for full time taxis.

I’ve seen taxis with 1.6million kays on them after 8yrs. There has to be significant savings over regular vehicles.

]]> By: Lugosi http://bytesfromthebackseat.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/cabs-going-green/#comment-386 Lugosi Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:26:14 +0000 http://bytesfromthebackseat.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/cabs-going-green/#comment-386 They're starting to some hybrid taxis in the DC suburbs. No discount for the drivers, though. I can't help but feel that hybrids are nothing but a product of great marketing by the car companies. First, they're more expensive than otherwise comparable cars. Second, those batteries don't last forever. When it comes time to replace them, they cost in excess of $5,000. Third, if the car is involved in a serious accident and the battery is ruptured, it becomes a hazmat situation. Fourth, it takes energy to manufacture those batteries. And when they outlive their usefulness, they can't merely be thrown away. They have to be recycled.Both the manufacturing process and the recycling take energy. Is that energy offset by the fuel savings from the batteries? No one's really answered that. They’re starting to some hybrid taxis in the DC suburbs. No discount for the drivers, though.
I can’t help but feel that hybrids are nothing but a product of great marketing by the car companies. First, they’re more expensive than otherwise comparable cars. Second, those batteries don’t last forever. When it comes time to replace them, they cost in excess of $5,000. Third, if the car is involved in a serious accident and the battery is ruptured, it becomes a hazmat situation. Fourth, it takes energy to manufacture those batteries. And when they outlive their usefulness, they can’t merely be thrown away. They have to be recycled.Both the manufacturing process and the recycling take energy. Is that energy offset by the fuel savings from the batteries? No one’s really answered that.

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